Splendour, BIGSOUND, Summersalt & more festivals get RISE funding

Splendour In The Grass, BIGSOUND and Summersalt were among 66 national events sharing in an extra $25 million in the third round of the federal government’s 200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.

Coming in the midst of a tug of war between the live sector and government, the fresh funding will create 25,000 employment opportunities across the country to ensure the live sector becomes more buoyant this year.

The announcement was made Friday by Arts Minister Paul Fletcher at Brisbane’s Tivoli Theatre.

The Tivoli was also a recipient in the round, receiving a $577,000 grant to stage music and arts events over the winter, creating more than 460 employment opportunities, according to Fletcher.

“We understand the widespread disruption to creative organisations from the pandemic,” he said.

“This funding is an important step in the rejuvenation of Australia’s arts sector from COVID-19, and will support our much-loved venues putting on activities such as festivals, concerts, tours, productions and events, particularly in regional and remote areas.”

Byron Bay’s Splendour In The Grass received $1 million towards staging on November 19, 20 and 21 with headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler The Creator.

The funding will create 1,300 jobs at the festival, the government confirmed.

Another major recipient was Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which received $1.1 million for promoter Global Creatures to adapt Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Australian film to a stage show, creating more than 100 jobs for an all-Australian cast and crew.

Perth-based Zaccaria Concerts & Touring received $726,300 for the national concert tour Summersalt, which proved a major drawcard earlier in the summer despite COVID restrictions.

Brisbane’s BIGSOUND conference and showcase this year received a federal top-up of $180,000.

TEG Dainty had a boost of $453,400 to stage the Bat out of Hell – The Rock Musical this year.

Muso – The Rise of The Pub Gig will receive more than $220,000 to revitalise live music, working with over 100 venues Australia-wide to put on more than 500 local gigs for metro and regional communities, creating 1,300 new jobs.

Grants also went to two Melbourne streaming platforms. Leading Star Entertainment’s MUUZO built to showcase Australian artists to a global audience got $645,000, and The Motley Bauhaus received $78,060 to launch the new MotleyGO SVOD service.

Festivals given cash injections to restart or rebuild included Global Gathering ($473,267) Rolling Thunder Vietnam ($462,395), Beyond The Valley ($462,558), Party in the Park in Parramatta Park ($397,700), So Frenchy So Chic ($367,000), Beachside Country ($240,000), The COMPASS Project to deliver 35 shows in the regional areas ($99,115), Future Now ($113,955), Under Western Skies ($90,000) and Loch Hart Music ($75,000).